There are many reasons for this which we’ll get to in a moment, but first I wanna say two quick things:

#1. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to everyone who listens to it!!!!

I cannot express the love and gratitude I have for y’all – many of whom I don’t even know and who came from Paula’s tribe, but I can’t thank you enough and just want you to know that I’m beyond appreciative for all the support and encouragement since our launch. It’s one thing to stop a project that’s failed miserably, but a whole other when things are going strong and everyone’s so encouraging. So please – know that deep down I love and appreciate every one of you who have supported us this year, and know that it’s been a helluva awesome experience!

#2. The show will go on – so don’t go anywhere :)

Paula is VERY much still as excited – if not more so – to continue on with the show (after all – one less entrepreneur in the mix means more control and freedom, haha…) and she plans to continue running it as-is, just minus one bumbling cohort trying to even out her smarts ;)

You’ll still be able to find the show at themoneyshow.co, as well as on iTunes and Stitcher and all that good stuff, and it will still be focused on reaching financial independence through entrepreneurship/hustling/ investing/killing off debt, and everything else we’ve been talking about throughout the year.

If you’ve been a fan of the show, PLEASE keep checking it out and give M.O.N.E.Y. 2.0 a shot! Paula’s working really hard behind the scenes, and already lined up some great new guests and ideas for it, some of which I was holding her back on. And it won’t be the last time you hear from me either (quite literally) as I have already promised to come back as a special guest as a condition of me leaving the show ;) Which, btw, she’s been more than understanding and incredible about – which says a lot about her as a person and businesswoman. So please – give it a shot with her as the new captain and hopefully you’ll still like it just as much!

Okay… So why retire now? When everything’s going well?

If you have some time, you can listen to our full show on it which we just released today –> Jay’s last show – but the short answer is that my heart just isn’t into it anymore :( And I also started getting super anxious and pulled away from projects – and personal time – I DO very much care for (like this blog!).

The one thing I told myself going into this was that I had to be really excited and passionate about it as it takes so much time and energy to do (way more than I thought – wow! I give you podcasters mad cred!), so once that started slipping away I knew I had to do something about it. I LOVE what the show’s about and the awesome community we’ve built around it (the best part!), but at the end of the day the cons started outweighing the pros and I eventually had to make sure that *I* was taken care of first :(

In fact, I joked with Paula that it was very much like breaking up with a long-term girlfriend, only one that everyone likes and then hates you for breaking up with her! Haha…

It’s easy to break up with someone that people hate and talk about behind your back, but a whole other when they thought you two were perfect together and were going to marry ;) So in that regard I kinda wish it would have failed only to make the decision easier, but of course I’m thrilled that people are enjoying it so much and cannot believe we just crossed 200,000 downloads last week!! Crazy! And I’m gonna miss you so much Paula!!

So, new territory I’m crossing here for sure, but hopefully one that I made the right decision on and will look back later feeling glad I did so… Though Paula will have to bring me on once she crosses a MILLION listeners and see just how I feel about it then, haha…

Actually, we go over it on the show, but one thing that really helps me with decisions like this is trying to envision the *perfect outcome* with a project, and then seeing if I still feel the same way about it afterwards.

For example, if M.O.N.E.Y. did hit millions of listeners and was making tons of money, would I have wished I stayed aboard? And if so, does it mean I should then keep with it and just work on overcoming these issues in order to eventually reach that major goal? Well, of course you know what the answer is to all this or else you wouldn’t be reading this right now ;), but if it had changed things I would have certainly stuck around and figured out how to make it work. This podcast has always been a passion project of mine over a business one, so when that core fails it’s hard to overcome…

Good Quitting vs Bad Quitting

Throughout this process of figuring out what the right move was here, I made a list of pros and cons which later turned into “good reasons” to quit something and “bad reasons” to quit something,” you know – since we like to turn all our life’s events into lessons as bloggers :)

I also thought it may help some of you going through tough decisions as well, since we can easily second guess ourselves and get so stuck in our own heads.

So below are the lists, along with some personal examples of how it affected my decision w/ the M.O.N.E.Y. show here. And again, this is something we get wayyy more into on my last episode too if you want to feel the emotions behind it which to me makes it the best one yet! Or at least our rawest!

Hope it helps…

Good reasons to quit/retire:

Your heart’s not into it anymore / it no longer excites you — While not the #1 factor for everyone, it’s a substantial one for me as once my interest wanes, so does my work ethic and motivation. It doesn’t mean I have to enjoy all the parts to it since every gig has their annoying sides, but I DO have to immerse myself fully into it – whatever it is – or else it’ll end up a half-assed project… And really, who wants a half-assed project?

It doesn’t line up with your goals anymore — For me, “fun” was the main point of doing M.O.N.E.Y., but the goals differ depending on the project or job you’re shooting for. Some are strictly money based, while others are to help advance a career or brand or even merely for prestige. It doesn’t really matter what they are, just so long as you’re inching closer to them over time. One of my favorite quotes sums it up perfectly,

“It’s always better to be at the bottom of a ladder you want to climb, than half way up one you don’t.”

Your project fails! — While having heart and being aligned goal-wise is great, sometimes they just plain fail at the end. And I’ve had way more do that than the opposite over the years! :) As have most people who put things on the line… The trick is being able to tell when to call it a day and when to keep pouring in the energy (more on this below in the “bad reasons” section).

You found a better/more efficient use of your time – Sometimes you can really succeed with one area, but then find another where you could do even better and thus decide to swap your attention to. While I’m losing great marketing and potential income from the show, I’m also freeing up a TON of time to better focus on those projects I still do love very much, as well as freeing up some more for myself and my loved ones too. I struggle a lot with the work/life balancing act, so anytime you can give yourself more hours in the day it’s hard to not call it a win!

It’s physically/emotionally harming :( — This is probably the hardest one to do something about – whether you’re successful at what you’re doing or not. I can’t even imagine how grueling some people have it, especially those in toxic environments!, but I do know that we’ve got to put our bodies and mind first any chance we get. The anxiety the podcast brought me was low on the grand scale of things, but I could easily see it creep higher and higher the bigger the show got. Maybe that’s an issue with me or a lack of confidence or something, but whatever the reason it was real and it wasn’t getting better. My heart really goes out to all those stuck in much worse – and complicated – positions out there as this stuff is no joke!

Bad reasons to quit:

Being lazy / don’t want to do the hard work – This is probably the worst reason to quit, and probably one of the most common :) Lord knows it was my falling over the years! I’ve since learned, fortunately, that nothing worth fighting for comes easy, so gone are the days stopping at the first obstacle that may come its way…

Not letting enough time go by to see whether it’s going to take off or not — This is another biggie that plagues entrepreneurs, or really anyone seeking to accomplish something big. You never know when you can be right around the corner from a breakthrough, or if you’re setting yourself up for many more years of the same! And while every project/goal/person is different, I typically give myself a “1 year minimum” on any project I start just to make sure I see it through enough to tell whether it not only stands a chance, but that I’m also enjoying it too. The podcast was technically only live for a little under four months, but Paula and I worked on it for 7-8 months before hand which helped me to make the decision that much easier. Since most of what anyone sees – whether in podcasts or blogs or anything really – is only the finished product. Tons of time and energy go on behind the scenes leading up to that point, which gives you plenty of time to let it soak in and see if it’s something worth still pursuing or not. And after almost 12 months of working on it, I sadly realized it was not :(

Wanting to get successful super quick — Okay I lied, THIS is probably the main reason most projects/businesses/financial plans fail, haha.. Everyone wants to hurry up and be successful these days! Especially in the online world! And I have the perfect quote for this one too ;)

“The harder you work, the luckier you get.”

Moving to a shinier thing just because it’s shinier — This is pretty much a result of following all three areas above: not wanting to put in the time and the hard work, mixed in with trying to hit a home run at your first time at bat. It’s often hard to tell *which* ideas to follow and which not since you never really know until it’s put out into the world, but implementing rules such as the “must work on it for a year” one, as well as testing them out before jumping “all in” can certainly help determine its fate. Another thing that really helps – for all you business lovers – is the “lean canvas” idea. Check it out later if you’re wondering (or stuck) on what to do about your own future or current product/service.

And that pretty much sums it up :)

A bunch of things to think about before quitting a project, and hopefully gives you more insight as to my thoughts on retiring from the podcast as well…

It’s been an incredible learning experience over all, and one I’m always going to be proud of!, but my time has come and now we await the next journey ahead of us… while making sure to enjoy the nice silence in the mean time :)

And again, I just have to thank you all SO SO MUCH from the bottom of my heart for all the encouragement you’ve given me!!!

It was hard to put myself out there in launching it (audio is SO much more raw than print), and it’s been even harder to admit it’s not working now and to move on from it as well. So thank you so much for all the support – I can’t even tell you how much I appreciate it all. Just know that I do! And please continue to support Paula too as the show goes on – she’s amazing!

Thank you everyone!! Will see ya back here on Wed. for more of the good financial word… Hope your projects are going really well and that you have clarity too!

XOXO,

PS: Just for good times, here were some of my favorite shows we did… I’m gonna miss you Paula!

Jay loves talking about money, collecting coins, blasting hip-hop, and hanging out with his three beautiful boys. You can check out all of his online projects at jmoney.biz. Thanks for reading the blog!

I was wonder where you were on last weeks episode. I think you are very good at it, very natural, very conversational. I’m sorry to see you go, but understand it. If your heart is not in it, it’s best to walk away. Paula is going to do just fine.

Completely well thought out and reasonable. Why keep doing all this if it just means that you’re missing out on time with the family? That’s the whole point of having flexible work! I actually haven’t listened to the podcast yet… not enough time!

Yup! I always tell myself that I’d rather work less and live more – especially while my kids are so young – but my actions don’t always align up as well ;) So this is me trying to undo some of my hustling nature!

It’s hard to let opportunities go by the wayside. Remember, there’s an infinite amount of opportunities. Just cause you’re not doing this one right now, if you’re looking, there will be 10 that take its place!

Way to drop a bomb on us! It just can’t be the same show without J. Money. But good job doing what you have to do for you – we’ll get over it, eventually. As long as you don’t tell us next week that you also sold Budgets are Sexy, that’s when panic would ensue.

Awe. I’m sorry to hear you’re leaving the podcast. The two of you had a great dynamic. But I totally understand your reasons for leaving. I was introduced to Paula through the podcast and I’m a lover of real estate so I’ll keep up with the show even in your absence :) Comgrats on making the best decision for your life and career!

J. Money, I am so happy I found the M.O.N.E.Y. podcast because it introduced me to you, BudgetsAreSexy, and Rockstar Finance. Your path is more akin to mine in that neither one of us has “arrived” at FI but are both interested finding the way that works for us. I value the insight, strategies, and encouragement shared by Paula and other bloggers/podcasters who have already “made it.” However, your stories about successes and failures, musings about the philosophy of earning/saving/giving/receiving money, and experiments to help us accelerate the time to financial independence provide humor and joy along with learning moments, at least for me. I wonder if this is because I feel you are on the journey with me, doing three jobs at once: my partner in FI crime, a mentor, and a motivational speaker for when things seem sluggish or so far in the future as to be futile!

In short, I listened to the podcast to hear all that YOU brought to the table. I will continue to listen but the void due to your absence will be a distraction.

On the positive side, if this is the best decision for you, your goals, and (most importantly) your family, then I applaud your decision to do what’s right for you! Just another reminder for all of us that sometimes the right decision is not necessarily easy to make.

Awww you are good to me, thank you. You never know how any of your stuff is affecting people unless they say something, so I’m glad you did! This totally made my morning – thank you :) And don’t worry – you can always find me here and all other projects to come. I’ll still be on podcasts too, just not *running* any.. I’ll still be your partner in crime :)

Thanks for your honesty and for all the hard work you put in the show. I think good reason #2 is huge–when something doesn’t fit your bigger picture anymore, it’s time to move on. I struggle with knowing when to quit things and will carry on for way too long. This has happened a number of times. The silliest but most extreme example was that it took me over 2 years to pull the trigger on quitting gymnastics, something I’d agonized over my entire 8 years in the sport. Anyway, I think your lists of good & bad reasons are very helpful and I’m bookmarking this one for future reference!

I think we get better at this as we age :) The old me would have carried on for at least another year or two before admitting to myself the podcast wasn’t working, so I’m pretty amazed with myself that I pulled the trigger when I did, haha… So here’s to the both of us getting smarter over time! :)

The quote “It’s always better to be at the bottom of a ladder you want to climb, than half way up one you don’t” really resonated with me. It actually applies to my day job. I have to decide sooner than later what I want to do with my career.

Sad to see you leave J – but it is so powerful to watch someone stick to his “extremely important” goals (that’s how we label them in our decision making framework). It sounds like “fun and exciting work” is one of your key decision principles and you are following that. You are reflective, kind, and encouraging – all great traits and why you have so many followers!

Super sad to hear this because loved you on the show! But super happy that you are doing what is right for you! Congrats on figuring it out and sharing your process. I’m sure it wasn’t an easy decision!

Relationships in any business are tricky, and it’s understandable to step away if the timing’s right. But think of all the experience you’ve gained too! I don’t know the first thing on launching/making a podcast, and that’s okay.

Isn’t it amazing how quickly a year passes? Again, totally understandable move.

Yeah, I wouldn’t have changed it for the world… I was just so PROUD of us to get it out the door and launched that it was all a win from that point out! Haha… I always wondered if podcasting was in my cards and now we know :)

Oh, no – I’m SO sorry to hear this!!! But I guess you doing a podcast isn’t all ALL about me… :) It sounds like you thought long and hard about this decision, and it’s the right one for you. I give you credit for making what sounds like a very tough decision. Leaving a successful project can’t be easy.

I wasn’t familiar with Paula before the podcast, and really like her and her approach, so she can definitely count me as a continuing listener!

I’m so glad! Unfortunately my decision affects another special person to me too (Paula) so I’m really hoping all goes well and she continues forward w/ no major glitches… Never know what can happen with this sorta thing so she’ll be thrilled you’re sticking to it! And I agree – she’s got a great head on her shoulders and even better spirit :)

As someone who’s been involved in a podcast before, I can definitely attest to the amount of work that goes into making the show great. And the more listeners you get, the more responsibility you feel to spend more and more time making it great. Podcasting, – just like radio talk show hosting – sounds so easy, but like you said, it’s a LOT of work, and if your heart isn’t it, that’s an awful lot of time to spend doing something that you just don’t want to be doing.

More power to you for quitting the show so you can focus on your own projects, J!

If you aren’t passionate about something, move on and find something you’re more passionate about. You’ll do a better job and a bigger service to the readers/listeners/clients when you are passionate about your project(s).

It’s one of the things holding me back from starting a videocast/podcast format. Not super passionate about it and not willing to devote the time it would take to do it right (at least not today).

And I’m lazy. Which can be a great motivator if you focus on hard work temporarily so you can indulge your laziness long term. :)

Sounds like this was a really tough decision. We’ll miss hearing you on the podcast, but thanks for all the great shows you did, and for being so open about your reasons for retiring from it. Onward and upward!

It depends on *what* you determine as “success” too :) If it’s fulfilling you and you’re having fun, that’s great! The stats and $$ and all that can be doubly great, but just remind yourself of WHY it is you got started and hopefully that can help guide you through the tough times…

This is unfortunate but selfishly Im only thinking about myself as I very much enjoy the podcast and identified more with your personality (mostly because I have no interest in real estate).

However, I agree. I too used to work myself ragged. Pulling 16 hour days, answering emails 24/7 and obsessing over the tiniest details of my business. I now take Fridays, weekends and all nights off to spend with my family. Everyone is so much happier and my business is thriving.

Love that idea of Fridays + weekends/nights off!! Even more so than all your dope tattoos! :)

Dropping the show def. frees up an entire day’s worth of work each week, so that’ll certainly help me pair it down as well… Already got nights covered and only 1/2 a weekend, so my hope is that this clears out all weekends now and starts dipping into the work week :) But we’ll see how easy I can calm the hustler inside of me, haha…

I was looking for a podcast to listen to this morning and saw that headline. Sorry to see that you’re leaving. I enjoyed the podcast chemistry between you and Paula. Sometimes having two engaging people makes the podcast that much more exciting. But if your heart is not into it than there’s no point in continuing.

Thanks man… I really wanted to keep it as real and true to myself as possible… Which is why we decided to just hop on the mic and record this last show together right as the decision was made so it would all flow out naturally! There were times I literally wanted to throw up just thinking/talking about it – esp when telling Paula at first! – so it was pretty cathartic too just spilling it all… My thoughts, no the vomit ;)

This is a sad day but if your heart is not in it then it is best to step down. Thanks for being honest with us and giving very reasonable arguments. You should never pursue something you do not enjoy so I think you are making the right decision. Who knows maybe you might miss it and be a guest sometime!

This is why I admire you, J! You are the entrepreneur I’d like to become… not one that does everything just because they can. You are intentional and put your heart into it. If it’s not there, you stop doing it. Keep it up, J!

When I read the subject of the post, I was 90% sure that it is going to be a prank. With each sentence that I read of your post, the % kept reducing but till the end, I was hoping to read that it is prank :-) Money podcast will not be same without you… It was so much fun to listen you and Paula together. You will always be missed on the podcast :-(

But my respect for you have increased manifold :-) There are very few people who have the guts to leave a successful/potential to become successful projects! Keep it up, J!

Haha, thanks man… I hate pranks like that cuz I fall for them every time, so I’d never be able to do that to anyone :) Glad you were really enjoying the show though! Better to walk away on a high note than the opposite, eh?

I listened to every episode and really enjoyed what you guys brought to the table. Nothing against Paula, but you’re the reason I continued coming back every episode. Your laid back and conversational style is much easier for me to listen to. I’ve only been really into personal finance for about a year, but what’s always drawn me to this blog, Rockstar Finance, and the Money Show was that you’re very real and relatable. You’re a self-proclaimed regular guy who’s figuring all this money stuff out as you go along, while making a living and raising a family.

Thanks for the work you put into the podcast, you’ll definitely be missed. I might still tune in from time to time, but it definitely won’t be the same. I’m happy for you though that you made the decision for the right reasons and it frees up more time to spend with family and projects you’re more passionate about! I really appreciate all you do, thanks again.

Thanks so much man – you guys are making it a LOT easier for me to be okay with, despite knowing that I just walked away from something semi-successful :( It won’t be my last project in the least, so rest assured the laid back normal talk will always be here and then some :) And good for you for taking an interest in this stuff and sticking to it! Your wallet’s going to be so happy down the road!!

#2 is so common: “Not letting enough time go by to see whether it’s going to take off or not “… People start something and expect instant results, and quit when they don’t achieve them. There is a balance between knowing when something failed or if you just need more time, but I think most people quit way too early!

I hate to hear this but then I totally understand your reasons. Podcasting is absolutely a labor of love and sometimes I wonder about stopping but then I get amazing emails from young women saying it inspires them or listeners become clients and it’s like we’re built in friends because they have been following the podcast. As you said, you have to follow your great and your passions and I know you won’t regret this move, but many of us will be sad not to hear your voice all the time. :-(

Thanks, friend – appreciate you saying so :) You can hear (and see!) me soon at FinCon at least! That will always be something I’m passionate about :) Glad to hear you’re still in love with it as well despite the hesitation every now and then… The emails def. help to power you, I agree.

Sad to see you go but looking forward to MONEY 2.0! You nailed the good/bad reasons to quit something. Always looking for a lesson in life’s events. :) Thanks for sharing the details and your perspective.

This was a really helpful inside look. Mr. Mt and I were just talking about the idea of “quitting” last week. How if we only did things that we 1. Knew we would be great at and 2. Knew we would love, how many cool things we would miss out on! I think the idea of giving in a year is a great benchmark. That’s where I am at with blogging. Just try it for a year and then reevaluate. =)

And you are SO FREAKIN’ GOOD at blogging too! Seriously – one of my favorite new blogs out there. I really hope you end up enjoying it throughout too so you’ll stick around for much longer than a year :)

J Money! Really going to miss you. I especially appreciated how different you and Paula were-it provided great perspectives. You came across as genuine, smart and laid back on the show. It was as if we were all having a cup of coffee together! All my best for your future endeavors. I’ll certainly miss hearing you on a podcast.

Thanks Betty Lynn! So glad it came across that way – exactly what I was going for :) Just chilling as friends and talking about the good word on money… If only we could all do it in real life at a nice cafe somewhere! I’d never get tired of that :)

Great post! Read this as im listening to the podcast now. You did a great job on the podcast with Paula. Happy you are moving on though after discovering your heart was not into podcasting anymore. That is what financial freedom is all about! Being able to do only what you want and your heart is into. Best wishes!

This is sad but you’ve got great reasons for moving on. Thanks for the great podcasts you have had. I agree that when your heart is no longer in what you are doing, then, it’s time to move on something else.

Nooooo! The fact that there were two perspectives/personalities (you versus Paula) was something unique that I liked about the show. I also like your humor at times. I likely wouldn’t have listened to the podcast if you weren’t in it. Anyways I understand if you don’t have the passion/heart to continue it and maybe you’ll find something else (other than blogging) that interests you.

I’m really sad to see you go. You made the show more “real” (imo). You have helped me start down a better path to my financial goals in such little time. We are neighbors too!
Godspeed on your future projects.
Sending good vibes your way!

Sorry you feel a little bad, but it sounds like you know what’s best for you. I didn’t enjoy vlogging and stopped after 6 weeks or so, so way to go on sticking with it!!! Yeah, most of the things I’ve quit have had some reasons from your bad reasons to quit list. But I have the tendency to either quit quickly or stick with it forever. :-)

Good for you for doing what is best for you and your family.
I only got a chance to listen to the first couple of shows, but I did really enjoy them and still have every intention of going back and listening to more.
I’ll miss your voice on the show, that’s for sure.

Oh that’s such a bummer. I love Paula (who I hadn’t really read before the show), but related more to your emotion based strategies.

It’s hard to pull the plug on something that is technically working but isn’t feeling right, but I have even more respect for you for doing it. I just finally quit my second job, which is actually my hobby too. I got to teach aerial silks and trapeze, which not only got me a few hundred every month, but also let me take classes for free, in a studio filled with very good friends of mine. On paper it sounded perfect, but I had started dreading it. It added stress to what had been an outlet, and I actually took fewer classes than before. When I noticed that every week my stomach turned in knots before I taught, I knew I had to stop doing it.

I think what you cut out of your life and why matters just as much as what you let into it. I’ll miss you on the podcast, but major kudos for listening to what your body was telling you: that it just wasn’t right for you!

I really enjoyed listening to you both each week, but I fully understand your position. I will be continuing to support Paula and the show :-)

Budgets are sexy is a great blog and you have built a great community on here. You personally answer EVERY comment, email, tweet and facebook post even that alone would take up alot of time! Good to see you are putting yourself first :-)

Aww!! I will miss hearing you on the podcast! I am so far behind. I found a bunch of personal finance related podcasts and have been listening to all their back dated podcasts (some from 2 years ago). Slowly working my way back to present day.

Really sorry to hear you’re leaving the podcast, it has been keeping me company for the last week or two on my commutes to and from work and I’ve been really enjoying it. I really liked the dynamic between the two of you, with your different approaches to things. Best of luck with whatever comes next and I’ll still be listening to Paula as she goes solo.

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I, J. Money, only claim the thoughts from my head. I am not a banker, CPA, money manager or anything else of that sort. Please seek a professional for any "real" advice. More info: privacy & disclosure page